Easter Law Firm, LLC

Warmer weather calls for activities: Bike riding! Sometimes novice riders need not only helmets, but also flags so they can be seen by vehicles reversing. Lights are also very easy to install as well for additional visibility when dusk arrives.

24% spike in car wreck fatalities since the pandemic began even though less people are on the roadways. Spring and summer will be filled with tragedy after tragedy when the dulled safe driving skills combine with more people on the roads. Contacting your legislator about adding MO to the 47 other states that prohibit texting and driving is a good start.

And for the love of Pete, use gloves not pockets on ice. A broken wrist is better than a fractured skull.

Easter Law Firm is honored to announce that attorney Cheryl P. Hom has been nominated and elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers (SMWL) for a two-year term, starting January 2021. SMWL, founded in 2015, was created to provide new opportunities for women in the legal profession. SMWL promotes networking and mentorship with lawyers from diverse practice areas, as well as judges. We are excited that in addition to accomplishing great things with our firm, attorney Hom will be bringing her expertise to the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers organization.

Latest data on fatalities on MO roads. Spoiler: "Aggressive driving" is the number one cause. Again. https://www.modot.org/most-common-characteristics-fatal-cra

Only your legislators can change this.

We know everyone has been clamoring this holiday season to learn more about recent premises liability cases regarding liability waivers, so here it is: https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=170436 Merry Christmas!

Share this post if you learned something new. People are driving a lot less than they were this time last year, so here are some non-crash tips: 1. Leaving your key fob in your car (like if you park in a home garage) will slowly drain your battery so much that your battery cannot hold charge if the vehicle isn't driven at least every couple of days. There is also a battery shortage for many vehicles, so you may be without a car battery for a while. 2. Missouri is still only o...ne of three states without a texting while driving ban for all drivers (currently only banned for drivers under 21). 3. Low tire pressure causes many blowout crashes. Cold weather causes tires to lose pressure at about one pound for every 10-degree drop. If you haven't checked the pressure (and are low in even one tire) and the temperature drops like it does every winter then it is a recipe for disaster, or at least the very worst time to change a tire. 4. Health care costs have gone up by a multiple of 80 since 1960. Example: A base model Ford Mustang MSRP was $2,663 in 1965. If that car cost increased at the same rate it would cost $213,040 now. Relatedly, Missouri established the state minimum of $25,000 per person for liability for car crashes nearly 40 years ago when hospitalization costs were much, much lower. Missouri also does not require underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which is actually the best way to protect you and your family if hit by a bad driver (instead of just hoping the other driver has enough insurance).

You'll find this in the latest 417 Magazine.

New rules for drivers approaching crosswalks. Check it out: